Craggs hurls complete game as Trailblazers begin weekend series with Schoolcraft

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers began their weekend home stand on a great note Friday afternoon after freshman pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) threw a five-inning complete game to help the Blazers get an 11-1 victory over Schoolcraft College.

The Trailblazers got off to a slow start at Jerry Blemker Field, with Schoolcraft striking first in the first inning after a lead-off walk came around to score.

Vincennes' hitters would get this run back quickly however after a leadoff walk by sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.).

Burdette would steal second base and advance to third on a throwing error before being driven in by an RBI single by sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.).

VU would grab the lead in the second after the first five batters in the inning reached base, including an RBI single by Burdette.

The Trailblazers broke the game open in a big way with a two-out three-RBI double by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) as the Blazers took a 5-1 lead into the third.

Vincennes would continue to build their lead in the fourth after sophomore Mahkai Pelzer (Douglasville, Ga.) led off the inning by being hit by a pitch.

Pelzer was followed by a single by Elliott, a walk by Evans and was driven in on an RBI single by freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.).

Elliott and Evans would score on the play as result of a fielding error and Whitehead would later score on an RBI single by sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.) to give the Blazers a commanding 9-1 lead.

Vincennes came to bat in the fifth inning needing just two runs to invoke the 10-run rule and got started quickly with a single by Pelzer.

After Burdette and Elliott walked to load the bases, Pelzer would score on a ground out by Colton Evans, giving him four RBI's on the day.

Carter Whitehead was walked intentionally to load the bases again and the game ended after sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.) drove in the final run on a walk-off hit by pitch to give the Blazers the 11-1 victory over Schoolcraft College.

Gavin Craggs got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers and really settled in on the mound after a tough first inning.

Craggs would throw the full five-inning complete game, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five batters on the day.

This win kicks off a four-game weekend series for the Trailblazers as they will host the Ocelots again at Jerry Blemker Field Saturday, March 11th for a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch Saturday is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

The series will then conclude on Sunday, March 12 with a single, nine-inning game set to begin at 12 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

Schoolcraft – 100   00 – 1

VU (7-11) – 140   42 – 11

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Evans. RBI – Evans 4, Burdette, Elliott, Whitehead, Bartlett, Coy. HBP – Pelzer, Bartlett. SB – Burdette.